Question Time

Recently I have been in touch with ex-drinkers through Twitter. One of these is Johnny who has his own blog @ www.stopping-drinking.com

I asked Johnny some questions about drinking and giving up. Johnny’s words are positive and inspiring to others looking to give up or cut down on what they drink. You can find our conversation below:

Why did you start drinking?

I started when I was about 17 because I was one of the lads and that's what you do...one of the gang

When was the last time you had an alcoholic drink?
December 21st, 2006. I know the date, as it was the annual Christmas party at work. I'd drunk way too much and made a complete fool of myself in front of my work colleagues, again...

What made you want to change, to give up alcohol?

When I woke the following morning, after the party, I decided that either I stopped drinking and change my life, or else continue to feel ashamed and face work colleagues after drunk nights out. I didn't want to feel that feeling of shame ever again, so I decided there and then to give up. I'd tried before, but peer pressure always coerced me back. This time it felt different, it was as if I needed to give up, needed to have had this experience, but now move on. 

Do you feel the urge to drink alcohol after being sober for such a long time?

No, I have no feeling for alcohol, no desire. If I got close to thinking about it, I just need to think back to those drunk, really drunk, nights in which I totally made a fool of myself.

How do you feel on a night out? Is it hard to watch others drinking around you?

No. At first I thought everyone was looking at me because I was sober, then I realized that they couldn't see anything because they were all so drunk. The feeling of self conscious goes after a while. Plus you build up a load of excuses in case someone is asking why you aren't drinking and you might not be interested in telling them that you don't.

Any advice to people wanting to cut down or give up completely?

You have to do it for yourself, if you really want to give up or cut down, and then do it. It might mean that you need to find friends that drink less or have different interests, but if you really want to do it, then go for it. My only regret was that I didn't give up years before. It's one of those things that continue to push you, it’s that feeling that you are trying to recapture all the time lost, completely comatose on the sofa, or the still feeling groggy 3 days after a massive weekend session. My life is fuller now, with more things happening than I ever did before. Plus I have a young family, something I wouldn't have appreciated or been able to handle if I still drank.

I did think that if I stopped drinking I'd lose everything around me. I didn't, it is such a big lie. You watch ads on the TV from Carlsberg and Heineken and you get the feeling that when you drink you're cool, the man of the moment, the Adonis who can chat up beautiful women. The reality is so different. Life is better now. People say that they can't understand where I get the energy to do all the things I do now...I do, it's because I'm not recovering from the draining effects of drinking. It has been a life changer.